Improvement in steam or air brake cylinders



UNI ED STATES PATENT Onnron.

HENRY I. BEABUP, OF ELKHART, INDIANA, ASSIGNOB OF ONE-THIRD OF HIS RIGHTTO CHARLES Gr. MELUHER, OF SAME PLACE.

IMPROVEMENT IN STEAM OR AIR BRAKE CYLINDERS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent N0. 221,499, dated November11, 1879; application filed March 19, 1879.

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, HENRY I. BEARUP, of Elkhart, in the county ofElkhart and in the State of Indiana, have invented certain new anduseful Improvements in Steam or Air Brake Cylinders for LocomotiveDriving and Tender Wheels; and I do hereby declare the following is afull, clear, and exact description thereof, reference being had to theaccompanyin g drawing, and to the letters of reference marked thereon,making a part of this specification.

This invention relates to steam or air brake cylinders for locomotivedriving-wheel and tender brakes.

Heretofore such cylinders have been used for the applying of thebrakingpower upon the tender-wheels simultaneously with the applying ofthe power upon the driving-wheels by means of connecting theirrespective braking mechanism to a single piston. This method isobjectionable, for the reason that in connecting the driver andtender-wheel braking mechanism to a single piston they cannot be ad.-justed so as to equally distribute the power upon all wheels. The secondreason is in the event the driver-brake becomesiuoperative it alsodestroys the efficiency of the tender-brake. .The result of thisarrangement and method is that the efliciency is greatly diminished.

The object of my invention is to arrange a steam or air brake cylinderin such a manner that the driving-wheel and tender brakes can besimultaneously applied and automatically adj ustedby being operated bymeans of connecting the respective braking mechanism to separateindependent pistons working in the same cylinder and actuated by thesame pressure, thereby distributing the power equally upon all wheels,and in the event one becomes inoperative it cannot affect theefficiency-of the other.

This invention consist, first, in the operating of locomotivedriving-wheel and tenderwheel brakesby connecting their respectivebraking mechanism to separate or independent pistons working in the samecylinder and actuated by the same pressure.

It also consists in the arrangement of two pistons within one cylinderin such a manner that they will be simultaneous acting and automaticallyadjusting.

It finally consists in the construction and arrangement of two pistonswithin one cylinder, which will be more fully hereinafter explained.

In the drawing hereto annexed, the figure represents a central verticalsection of my improved steam or air brake cylinder.

Arepresents the ordinary steam or air brake cylinder, provided with twoseparate or independent pistons, B and G, of unequal diameters. Thelargest piston, B, is of an elo'n gated cylindrical form, as shown, andmade to lit the interior of the cylinder A. Its periphery is providedwith packing or packing-rings, in the usual or suitable manner. Saidpiston B is cast with the central elongated cylindrical recess orchamber, N, bored out to receive the small piston (J, which is of theordinary type in all respects. A

' The piston B is provided with suitable openings D, which serve athreefold purpose: First, to relieve all counter-pressure between thetwo pistons B and 0; second, in case the pressure-area of the outerpiston, B, requires to be enlarged without enlarging the diameter, itcan be inverted, and in such a case the openings serve aspressure-passages to admit the pressure to actuate the smaller piston(3; third, when the pistons are operated in the positions shown, theopenings D in piston B serve to admit the atmospheric pressure to pistonO in assisting it in its downward stroke, as the downward stroke iscontrolled by gravity, assisted by springs or other'suitable means, ifdesired.

The piston B is provided with suitable piston-rod E, which is connectedto the usual tender-braking mechanism bymeans of the lever O, or itsequivalent. Piston C has its piston-rod also connected to thedriving-wheelbraking mechanism in the usual manner.

As the equilibrium of the two pistons B and 0 cannot take placesimultaneously, the larger or outer piston, B, is allowed the greaterupward movement. In case the outer piston, B, is used in the invertedway, the inner or smaller piston, 0, should have the greater upwardmovement.

When the pistons are operated in the man ner shown, the cylinder A isprovided with the boss K, or its equivalent, extending upward suflicientdistance to prevent the piston (J from drawing out of the piston B. Whenthe piston B is inverted the said boss can be dispensed with.

G represents the pressure-passage common to all such cylinders, and saidpassage can be located at the side, if preferred. H represents a passagefor the purpose of relieving all counter-pressure occurring fromcondensation or leakage finding its way above the pistons. Said openingcan also be located at any position preferred above the pistons.

The operation is as follows: Supposing, the pressure is admitted, bothpistons B and U will immediately be caused to ascend in the direction ofthe arrow. As the pressure produces equilibrium first upon the pistonthat hasthe least travel the other continues ascending until theequilibrium is also produced, thereby resultingin the transmission ofthesame power upon the tender as is received upon the drivers, thus actingsimultaneously and adjusting itself automatically.

Iam well aware that a single piston has been used for applyinglocomotive-tender and driving-wheel brakes simultaneously; therefore Idonot claim any such arrangement; but I am not aware of any such methodand an rangement as herein described, wherein by the construction andarrangement of two separate or independent pistons 1 can simultaneouslyapply and automatically adjust the tenderbrakes with that of thedriving-wheel brakes. Therefore,

What I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. A double-acting steam or air brake provided with independent pistons,to which a simultaneous independent movement in one and the samedirection will be imparted on the application of pressure, substantiallyas and for the purpose set forth.

2. The combination of the cylinder A and piston 0, the cylindricalelongated piston B, with its periphery provided with packing orpacking-rings P, in the usual or suitable manner, central elongatedcylindrical chamber or recess, N, and the suitable openings I), andprovided with a suitable piston-rod, E, and lever O, substantially asand in the manner specified.

3. In a steam or air brake, the combination of the outer and innerpistons, B (J, the outer one recessed, as shown, to form a cylinder forthe inner one, as and for the purposes set forth.

4. In a steam or an air brake cylinder that shall be automaticallyadjusting and simultaneously-acting, cylinder A, the adjusting-pistons Band C, openings D, piston-rods E and F, and the lever 0, all combinedand arranged in the manner and for the purpose herein described,specified, and shown, substantially as set forth.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing I have hereunto set my hand this20th day of February, 1879.

HENRY I. BEARUP.

Witnesses:

W. J. WILSON, JOHN W. (JUMMrNs.

